Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
03-26-2007, 09:47 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 983
Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
I was a bit surprised to see that whereas just a week ago I was getting about 24.5 m.p.g. going a steady 80 on the highway (and over 25 m.p.g. going 75), I only got 22.2 going the exact same speed on the exact same road last Saturday.
The only thing that was different was that it was raining very slightly on Saturday on the way to A.C., and it was dry but the road was still damp on the way back home.
Could this big difference be explained by the wet driving conditions?
My tire pressure couldn't have changed much in a week (they look exactly the same), and I always use the same gas (either Shell or Texaco 93 octane).
Hope this doesn't sound too dumb, but I've never had a "message center" before and so I was never in a position to notice something like this.
Color me puzzled.........
The only thing that was different was that it was raining very slightly on Saturday on the way to A.C., and it was dry but the road was still damp on the way back home.
Could this big difference be explained by the wet driving conditions?
My tire pressure couldn't have changed much in a week (they look exactly the same), and I always use the same gas (either Shell or Texaco 93 octane).
Hope this doesn't sound too dumb, but I've never had a "message center" before and so I was never in a position to notice something like this.
Color me puzzled.........
03-26-2007, 10:01 PM
#4
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RE: Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
I'm surprised Matt- I really had no idea that the temp & humidity could cause such a big (almost 10 % !) difference.
Mikey- by "defroster" do mean the windshield defogger setting?
I did have that setting on but the a.c. certainly was not engaged- j ust the normal mix of warm & cold outside air that usually comes through the vents on the dash.
Mikey- by "defroster" do mean the windshield defogger setting?
I did have that setting on but the a.c. certainly was not engaged- j ust the normal mix of warm & cold outside air that usually comes through the vents on the dash.
03-26-2007, 10:13 PM
#5
RE: Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
I am not saying that it will change the MPG by that much. I just know that has an impact.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/factors.shtml
He is some good reading.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/factors.shtml
He is some good reading.
03-26-2007, 10:35 PM
#7
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RE: Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
The strange thing is that I went on exactly the same highway and drove exactly the same speed (both times with my wife in the passanger seat- and neither of us gained weight in that week either 
).
Very odd if you ask me, and the only difference I can think of is the wet weather...
).Very odd if you ask me, and the only difference I can think of is the wet weather...
03-26-2007, 10:39 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Posts: 45
RE: Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
Biggest factor I find in my drive, North and South, is the wind direction. Even if its only 10mph winds, if they are in oppisite directions on days you compared gas milage, that could effect it.
03-27-2007, 04:02 AM
#10
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Location: New Hampshire
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RE: Is Mileage Worse when it's Wet...?
ORIGINAL: maniacmikey
On a lot of cars the window defogger setting engages the AC to take the moisture out of the air. Not sure on the Mustang but on my F150 it did.
On a lot of cars the window defogger setting engages the AC to take the moisture out of the air. Not sure on the Mustang but on my F150 it did.